DIY Painting 101 - What To Know Before Going To The Paint Store

What do you do once you get to the paint store?  How do you know what brand, type, color, and sheen of paint to purchase?  Whether you are at a big box store, small hardware store, or paint store there are a lot of options when buying paint.  If you ask 10 people a question about what type of paint to use you will probably get 10 different opinions on what they think is the right choice.  There is more than one correct way to get things done.  Below I will give you advice on terminology that is used and some guidance to make sure you get the best product for your application.

INTERIOR or EXTERIOR

• This is self explanatory but important to make sure you get the right product.  Some paint is only good for one or the other and some products will work for interior or exterior

 WATER BASED or OIL BASED

• Oil based, alkyd, solvent based all mean essentially the same thing.  You will need thinner to clean up and they will have a stronger smell
• Water based, acrylic, latex all mean essentially the same thing.  Soap and water will clean these up and the smell won't be as bad as an oil based paint
  
• Most DIY painting projects can be done with waterbased products.  They are easy to use, hold up better than alkyds in the exterior, and are quick drying.

SHEEN

• Sheen is the level of gloss paint has once it is cured.  The higher the gloss the more durable and washable it is but also the more it shows imperfections in the surface.
• Below is shows the typical use of sheen for different applications
• FLAT:  Used on ceilings and areas that will not get much traffic.  It touches up great but does not clean well.  This sheen will do the most to hide surface imperfections.
• LOW SHEEN, PEARL, LOW LUSTRE:  Typically, the lowest sheen used on walls.  Low Sheen will give some level of washability and touches up better than eggshell.  Different manufacturers have different names for this.
• EGGSHELL, SATIN:  Sometimes confused for a color.  This is what is commonly used on walls.  It gives a good amount of washability and still looks nice on the walls.  Touching this up without repainting wall from corner to corner will be a challenge.
• SEMI GLOSS:  Used for trim, doors, and railings.  Holds up well to traffic and can be cleaned easily.  Will not hide imperfections in the surface.  It is sometimes used in bathrooms or other high traffic areas due to its durability and easy cleaning characteristics.  Can be used on furniture.
• GLOSS:  Not used very often for DIY painting applications.  Can be used on exterior trim and garage floors for excellent wearability.

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